Les Gorges Du Pichoux
Today’s ride took me onto uncharted territory. In the morning I browsed maps online while drinking a cup of coffee. No, in fact it probably took me two cups until I figured out where I was going to ride. When I decide where to go, I have no idea how many kilometers such a ride is going to be nor how much climbing is going to be involved. If someone would ask me before the ride, the best answer I could give is “probably a lot”. Today was no different. My plan was to ride the Gorges du Pichoux starting in Glovelier and somehow I needed to get there. I could have gone up the Jeanbrenin pass to reach Tramelan. Instead, I chose a climb I’ve never done before. It looked rideable on the map. So, I left for Courtelary where the climb began.
Out of the village it was a typical, paved single-lane farm road. Perfect until it took a sharp left hander and reached the forest. As soon as I was under the trees, I was rolling across gravel. The gravel was hard-packed and smooth so I continued. Once in a while the gravel was interrupted with a short stretch of old pavement and I easily made my way up. Once the road intersected with a small road coming up from Cormoret, I was happily back on pavement. The climb from there to the Chalet Neuf belongs to one of the nicest roads I’ve done in a while. It’s not awfully steep and travels through a deserted region. I was alone with critters and birds. At the Chalet Neuf I turned left to reach the Col du Mont Crosin. I was now on busier roads until Les Reussilles. At the roundabout I followed the street sign to Glovelier. Wow, the leg through Lajoux and Saulcy is a treat. Rolling hills to Saulcy that stay between 900-1000 meters above sea level followed by a fast 14% descent into Glovelier.
Just before entering the Pichoux gorge, I stopped in Berlincourt to fill my water bottle at a fountain and call my wife to let her know that I was still alive. The gorge is a amazing - visually. For nose and lungs the gorge is a place to avoid. While it wasn’t busy, there were cars and motorcycles going both ways regularly. And somehow their exhaust gases lingered on. On an open road the wind would carry them away quickly, but in this deep gorge all those bad fumes stayed where they were and I had the pleasure to fill my lungs with them. Exiting the gorge, I then deviated from my route. My initial plan was to take a shortcut to Sornetan and cross over to Le Fuet. But as I popped out of the gorge I touched ground on a freshly paved road to Souboz with signs saying that I would end up in Moutier.
Okay, Moutier it is. While this decision added a couple of kilometers, I ended up on another wonderful piece of road cycling heaven. Barely any cars but three cyclists coming the opposite way. Before dropping into Moutier, I was looking for a good place to stop and eat a couple of strips of Banana Passa (a deliciously smokey tasting organic Brazilian dried banana). I found an old wooden bench under a large pine tree overlooking Perrefitte and Moutier. Slightly refueled, I dropped down the road and took a right turn to ride up to Court, where I began the last long climb of the day.
Once in town, I was looking for a sign to the Grenchenberg, but was out of luck. There was a sign indicating Montoz and a few cars with Solothurn license plates were going that way. So, I just went that way too not quite sure I would end up where I wanted. But the couple of cars and motorcycles gave me enough confidence that I wouldn’t end up out in nowhere. This last climb was a tough one. About half way, I dropped into my smallest gear (36x25), which I rarely do and was glad I had it. At this point of the ride, the climb seemed endless. By the time I reached the top, I must have been delirious because I missed my turn. I think there’s a paved road continuing to the Obergrenchenberg and Untergrenchenberg. Instead, I went straight into a wide trail where a road bike definitely is at the wrong place and ended up on the Obere Büreberg where I found welcome pavement again. I dropped down to the Undere Büreberg and was back in familiar territory.
Only now I had to climb to the Stierenberg on gravel, where I sliced my tire the other week. Tired, I took it easy and rode extra careful. Once there, my legs got a short break while descending to Grenchen. Two cars in front of me slowed the downhill. I was able to pass one but passing the second was too dicey. The flat home stretch to Biel was done at a mellow pace. Surprisingly, back on the flats the legs turned pretty well. Though once at home, when I had to walk up four floors, my semitendinosus muscles were burning. I jumped under the shower, then drank and ate a bunch before heading out to dinner at 6PM. A great ride, a great meal with my wife - one great Sunday in September.
| Distance: | 119km (74 miles) |
| Elevation: | 3’619m (11’873 feet) |
| Time: | 04:47:24 |
| Speed (avg/max): | 24.7/81.1 kph (15.3/50.4 mph) |
| GPS Track: | GPSies.com |
